Panthers head coach Dave Canales was reportedly displeased with Jalen Coker's conditioning and body composition during the offseason, which resulted in the team assigning the wide receiver a detailed summer fitness program.
According to an August 30, 2025, article in The Athletic by Joseph Person and Jayna Bardahl, the team was concerned about Coker's conditioning issues and a related quad injury.
Key details from The Athletic's reporting:
Offseason program: Coker received a specific fitness regimen to follow in Charlotte during the summer. This resulted from Canales' concerns regarding his conditioning and body composition.
Recurring injury: The quad strain Coker experienced is reportedly the same one that sidelined him for three games during his rookie season in 2024.
Availability concerns: Coker's ongoing injury issues raise concerns about his ability to stay on the field. Availability is a critical factor for the team.
Coker's response: In an August 9 interview with Panthers.com, Coker acknowledged the team's collective effort to help him with his offseason plan. He stated he worked closely with the athletic staff in Charlotte, focusing on a day-by-day calendar to manage his workload and prevent soft-tissue injuries.
Training camp improvements: Canales praised Coker in early August for returning a "different athlete" after working on his "transition, his speed, his body [composition]".
Back on injured reserve: Coker was placed on injured reserve on August 30, 2025, due to another quad injury. This forced him to miss at least the first four games of the 2025 regular season and led the team to re-sign veteran Hunter Renfrow.